Refbigebator



Sept. 6, 1932.

REFRIGERATOR Filed Aug. 4, 1950 Patented Sept. 6, 1932 This invention relates to refrigerators and.'

more particularly to a refrigerating machine,

device or apparatus which performs thecool-l ,i ing `function by drawing an expansible liquid through a porous, permeable cellular or ,vesic' ular membrane or mediumv by the reduction of the pressure on one side of the medium so that the expansible liquid is expanded or s evaporated, the heat lof vaporizati'on of the:

liquid beingl drawn vfrom thesurroundings to reduce the temperature thereof.

The principal object of my inventionis to provide an inexpensive form of refrigerating ture of a chamber of .liquid or other Vsubstance to a temperature immediately above freezing, or to approximately 32 F., employing a vacuum refrigerating machinein which a porous or permeable membrane is used in place of the customary expansion Valve. I

Another object of my inventionlis to provide a refrigerating device using as the refrigerant a substance which is liquid during one part ofthe cycle of the operation yand gaseous at another part of the cycle of operation, the liquid being caused by a differential of the liquid is drawn from the remaining l fluid contained within the permeable or porthereof'to approximately 32F.-

' Another object of my invention is to provide an inexpensive form of water cooler for reducing the temperature of drinking or like water in which the water acts as the refrigerant and is forced to pass'through a'porous `he water remaining at, or substantially at, tmospheric pressure on theopposite side of 1e membrane so that the water on passing to the zone of reduced pressure isy evaporled to reduce the temperature of the water the container and the vrate of evaporation `the water being regulated to -control the Application fusa August 4, 1930, serial Nth-172,855.

apparatus for use in reducing the tempera-1 pressure to permeate a porous membrane in"V passingfto the side of the membrane at low pressure and the liquid when passinginto- 0 the zone of low pressure being vaporized so that the heat required for the vaporization Ious membrane to reduce the `temperature r permeable membrane by the reduction ofy he pressure upon one side of the membrane,`

p nnrmenna'ron' kdegree of temperature to which the water in the container is reduced. j l

Other objects and advantages of thisinvention it is believedwill be apparent from the following detailed description ofavpre- 55 ferred embodimentthereof as illustrated inY the `accompanying drawing.

, In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus 7 embodying this invention illustrating a water cooler as connected with a vacuum pump driven by a motorl and includingY an adjust-V i able thermostatic control for controlling the. operation of said motor in relation to the a; temperature of the .water inthe cooler.

v Figure` 2 is a fragmental sectional elevation substantially in mid-vertical section of a refrigerator embodying my invention.

In the preferred embodiment of my inif? vention illustrated in the accompanying drawing,` 1 indicates a container preferably formed of porcelainor stone-.ware which .is glazed uponits exterior ksurface 2. Formed on the under surface of the container 1 is an upwardly extendingannular flange 3, while formed at the upper end of the container 1 c. is an inwardly turned annular flange 4.k

Mounted Within the container l and held spaced therefrom by `means of the flanges 3 and 4 is a secondary stone-ware or porcelain 80 container 5 which has its inner periphery 6 glazed. Positioned between the containers 1 Vand 5 as indicated at 7 is an insulating material toprevent the passage ofk heat from the exterior of the container 1 into the interior 85 VofI the container 5. An outlet passage 8 is formedthrough the` containers land 5 and i is fittedwith a. bushing 9 into which a suitable valve, faucet or the like 10 is'provided for drawing water from within the interior of the container 5..

Formed integral with .the container 1 is a bell or 'dome' 'll'which extends into the infterior of the container 5 and is formed un- 95 glazed on each side so as toprovide al porous Y or permeable membrane through whichwater` from within the container 5 may pass as the pressure within the zone 12y of reduced presn sure is reduced. Extending into the dome 11 106r is a conduit 13 which is closed at its upper end by means of a cap 14 which is secured to the end of the conduit 13 and is packed by a packing 15 to provide a iuid tight joint. The conduit 13 is formed integral with abase plate 40 and is connected by means of a connection 18 with a conduit which leads to a vacuum pump 19. l The vacuum pump 19 may bedriven by any suitable or desirable form of mean-s such,V for example,

as the electric motor indicated at 20. n

The base plate 40 fits within the flange 3 of the container` 1 and is packed against the lower end of the dome 11 by means of a acking ring 16. A cap 17 lits within the ange 3 to engage the base plate 40 and the assembly is secured in position by means of a'nut 41a screw-threaded to the lower end of the 'conduit 13.

The electric motor may be controlled vin.

` operation by means of a thermostat 21 .mounted within the. interior of the chamber 5 and connected with the electric motor so as to control the operation of the motor 20 in accordance with the temperature of the l water within the container5.

When the refrigerator is used for the pur-V pose of cooling water, it is not desirable to reduce the temperature of the water below However, when the refrigerator embodying my invention is used for the purpose 'i preventing the flow of heat from the water' likewise formed of porcelain or earthenwarcV and is cast to provide an openchamber 25.

in which insulating material 26 is positioned. The cover 24 is provided with a downwardly lextending annular flange 24L which fits over the edge of the flange 22 of the inner container 5 and engages the upper edge of the:l

container 1. VThe covermember 24 is preferably glazed on allof its exterior surfaces.

Means are provided for controlling the flow of water into the container 5 to prevent flow of heat from the water contained in the inverted water bottle 27 yinto 'thewater contained within the container 5. Means for in the water bottle 27 to the water within the container 5 may beof any desired construction and is herein illustrated as including a float valve 28 which is mounted within the passage 29 formed through the cover member 24.V The float valve 28 is retained in posi tion by Vmeans of a stop bar 30 which is extended across the passage 29. The cover :is formed'withv a bell-shaped passage so that or stone-ware of which the dome 11 is formed,

pressure it vaporizes and as it is vaporized, it

'the vacuum pump v19` Y it provides a seat 31 upon which the float valve 28 seats to prevent circulation of water from the water bottle 27 to the water within the container 5 when the water within the container 5 is of a high enough level to hold the float valve 28 on its seat. By this means the water within the container 5 may be retained at a lowtemperature and the heat exchange between the water in the bottle 27 and the water within the container 5 is prevented. The:v float valve 28 is preferably formed as a ball having the air withdrawn from its inner periphery to produce a partial vacuum within the ball. The vacuum ioat ball 28 thus produced provides an insulated float valve retarding the ow of heat between the water contained in the bottle 27 and the container 5.

The water bottle 27 fits in the cover member 25 in the opening 32 so that its spout 33 is held elevated from the float valve 28. The particular illustration of the refrigerator herein given is a water cooler, but it is ob-Y vious that my invention is not limited to the cooling of water but that the principle of. my invention may be employed for refrigerating any desired substance and is particularly. applicable for domestic refrigerators and the like wherein water or a like liquid is available for the purpose of providing the refrigerant to be used.

The refrigerator embodying my invention as herein illustrated has the vfollowing mode of operation:

The water bottle 27 is positioned upon the cover member 24 so that water flows from the bottle 27 to fill the container 5. As soon as the water raises in the container 5 to a suflicient level, the float valve 28 is forced against the seat 31 to limit the exchange of heat between the water of the container 5 and the water of the bottle 27. The motor 20 is set in operation and the vacuum pump opcrates to reduce the pressure within the dome 11 drawing the air or vapor within the dome 11 through the portsl 34. The pressure of the water within'the container 5 is atmospheric. The pressure withinr the dome 11 will be reduced several inches of mercury below atmospheric pressure so that the water within the 1 container 5 flows through the permeable or porous membrane provided by the porcelain and as the water enters the Zone 12 of reduced draws its heat of vaporization from these surroundings. The heat of vaporization is therebyprovided by the water within the container 5 as the water is insulated by the insulation 7 and 26. The drawing of the heat of vaporization from the water within the container 5 reduces the temperature of the container 5 to the point where the thermostat is set to lstop the operation of the motor 20 and hence soon as the temperature of the Water Within the container 5 raises, the thermostat l again open the circuit to the electric motor 2O and the vacuum pump 19 Will be set to again reduce the pressure Within the dome causing further Water to permeate the permeable membrane 1l to e vaporized and again reduce Jthe temperature of the Water t iny the container 5.

having fully described my invention, it is be understood that I do not Wish to be liniited to the detailsl herein set foi'tli, but my is of the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a refrigerator including a chamber to receive the substance to be cooled, a pervious membrane, a refrigerant at atmospheric pressure on one side of the membrane, and means for reducing the pressure on the opposite side of said memb 1ane so that the rerigerant is membrane.

2. In a Water cooler, the combination of a container adapted to receive vious membrane projecting into said container, and means for reducing the pressure Within said membrane so that Water p trates therethrough and is evaporated, heat of vaporization the Water remaining in said container to ren a refrigerator including a chamber adapted to receive a liquid refrigerant, a pe means for reducing the pressure on one side brane so that the liquid refrigerant is forced tliierethrough into a zone of reduced pressure and is evaporated, the heat of pervious memrane connected With the chamber, means for reducing the pressure on the side of said membrane exterior to said container so that the forced through the pervious d In a refrigerator including a chamber to receive the substance vto be cooled, a perviou's membrane, a? refrigerant of atmospheric inea-ns for controlling the egree of pressure reduction on said side of the container, and the refrigerant being forced through th the pressure differential on the opposite sides and the heat of vaporization being taken said cham- 8. In a Water cooler, the combination of a container adapted to receive Water, a pervious membrane projecting into said container, a cover for said container, means mounted on the said cover for maintaining Water in the container to a predetermined volume, means for reducing th rane so that Water penetrates thereto and is evaporated, the heat of vaporization being extracted from the Water remaining in said container to reduce the temperature thereof, and means for preventing yWater circulation Water supply means.

l0. In a Water a container adapted to receive Water, a Water e pressure Within said inem-V to receive substance to be cooled, a pervious membrane, a refrigerant on one side of said membrane, and means vfor reducing a differential pressure upon opposite sides of said membrane so that the refrigerant is forced through the pervious membrane. v v

12.1 n a refrigerator, the combination 'of a container including a liquid to be cooled, a second container inverted at the top of the first container for maintaining the liquid in the irst said container to a redetermned level, and a vacuum float valve between the said containers Jfor arresting the flow of liquid from the second said container to the rst said container when the liquid in the first said container reaches a predetermined level, and for retarding the transfer o heat from the liquid in the second said container to the first said container.

Signed at of Ju1y,i9so. Y

RICHARD o. WOLFE.

Los Angeles, Calif. this 29th day` 

